# CVE-2021-44649: Cross-site Scripting in django-cms

> An attacker can execute arbitrary JavaScript in a user's browser via an unvalidated plugin_type parameter in Django CMS.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 12 Jan 2022
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hx7c-qpfq-xcrp, PYSEC-2022-7

## What is CVE-2021-44649?

CVE-2021-44649 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 12 Jan 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Django CMS 3.7.3 does not validate the plugin_type parameter while generating error messages for an invalid plugin type, resulting in a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the web browser of the affected user.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-44649?

9 open source packages ship an affected version, including django-cms. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `django-cms` | PyPI | From 3.4.0 | 3.4.7, 3.5.4, 3.6.1, 3.7.4 |
| `django-cms` | PyPI | From 3.4.0 | 3.4.7 |
| `django-cms` | PyPI | From 3.4.0 | 3.4.7 |
| `django-cms` | PyPI | From 3.5.0 | 3.5.4 |
| `django-cms` | PyPI | From 3.5.0 | 3.5.4 |
| `django-cms` | PyPI | From 3.6.0 | 3.6.1 |
| `django-cms` | PyPI | From 3.6.0 | 3.6.1 |
| `django-cms` | PyPI | From 3.7.0 | 3.7.4 |
| `django-cms` | PyPI | From 3.7.0 | 3.7.4 |

Products: Django-Cms Django Cms.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-44649?

Upgrade django-cms to a fixed version for your release line: 3.4.7, 3.5.4, 3.6.1 or 3.7.4.

## Is CVE-2021-44649 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-44649 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2015-5081](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-5081/): django-cms CSRF Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-11319](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-11319/): Stored XSS in Open Source Project "django-cms" (medium 4.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-44649 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-44649 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 12 Jan 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-44649 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- django-cms (PyPI): affected from 3.4.0; fixed in 3.4.7, 3.5.4, 3.6.1, 3.7.4
- django-cms (PyPI): affected from 3.4.0; fixed in 3.4.7
- django-cms (PyPI): affected from 3.4.0; fixed in 3.4.7
- django-cms (PyPI): affected from 3.5.0; fixed in 3.5.4
- django-cms (PyPI): affected from 3.5.0; fixed in 3.5.4
- django-cms (PyPI): affected from 3.6.0; fixed in 3.6.1
- django-cms (PyPI): affected from 3.6.0; fixed in 3.6.1
- django-cms (PyPI): affected from 3.7.0; fixed in 3.7.4
- django-cms (PyPI): affected from 3.7.0; fixed in 3.7.4

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44649/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44649/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-44649
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44649
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-44649

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44649/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.